Author's note: This chapter is more about the sick freak that Randal is. I almost forgot about he and Christopher; especially since I've been writing the Harvest Moon scene. But then again this story is called The Concubine, not The Prisioner. Also, I felt the need to explain some things: First in the Medieval period women had no rights, that is why David could rape his wife an no one see anything wrong with it. Second, Ashley is the next to inherit the thrown, but because she's a woman, she can't; so then it goes to Randal and then David. I hope it's not too confusing.

Thanx for the reviews, I'm glad you guys are liking it... and Torgue, you make me laugh!

Warning...This chapter contains sadism and sodomy.

The House of Orton

King Robert lay on his bed and motioned weakly for his visitor to enter the room. He peeked his eyes over the curtain and met with the vivid blue orbs of his only son. Moving his hand, he patted the bed beside him, inviting Randal to sit.

"You wished my presence, father?" Randal said lowering his voice. His smile to the old man was genuine. Being with the King was the only time that Randal's cravings seemed to cease.

The King reached over and handed Randal a declaration. "Before I give this to you, I wish to explain." With a cough, the King in his weakened state pulled himself up to a sitting position. "I fear I will not last through the winter. When I die, by right Ashley will become ruler of the kingdom."

Randal's brows came together. "She is woman father; an unmarried woman. She can not rule. By right the kingdom is mine."

"Aye. But I fear for you to rule." The King's voice was faint and this talk was taking much out of him. But there were things he needed the Prince to hear. "With this decree, I set forth that upon my death if you sister is unmarried, you will become King. But…"

Snatching the parchment from his father's hand, Randal looked at the decree. "David?"

"Your cousin, the Arch Duke, shall rule as your advisor until your years reach 30 summers." The King reached over to touch his son's hand, but was met with Randal retreating from his touch.

Rounding the bed Randal glared at his father. "You have always preferred him over me. He is an outsider, yet he is your favorite. You would rather give power to a man who is not of this house, then to have your own flesh rule?"

"I have seen the terrors of your mind through your eyes, Randal. I pray that the torment within your soul shall rest with years. David is a good man, a strong solider, he will protect this land until you are capable to do so with honor."

A hearty laugh escaped Randal. "A good man? Tell me what kind of man, rapes his own wife?"

A pained look crossed the Kings face. "I know not of what you speak, but David rules with house with an iron fist. He shall rule this country the same. You take too much pleasure in hurting those you govern. Too much care for the comforts you find in your bed. Your mind is not to the betterment of the kingdom, only to your release."

Randal settled his face as the King's cough persisted. Walking to the cart, he poured a goblet of wine. With his back to the King, he opened the bobble ring adorned on his finger and poured the hemlock into the glass. For months, Randal had been at the hand of his father's ailing health. It would only be a matter of time before he died. And if he had to kill Ashley as well, the more for his enjoyment.

Carrying the goblet to the bed, he sat down and regained his composure. "You are right, father. The images in my mind haunt me. Since mother died, I can not stop my actions from making the screams lessen. If you wish David to rule, until my age matures, I must not protest. But I swear, when the Thrown is mine, I will rule and make you proud."

The King drank his wine to the pleasure of his son. His cough settled and he lay back on the bed. "Call for the Bishop Shawn Michael, I wish to discuss my last rights."

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Christopher heard the soft sounds of a female voice. Opening his swollen eyes, he saw a ghost. "Gail?" He whispered over cracked lips.

Keeping Christopher alive was a fate worse than death, but for the plan to kill the Arch Duke to work, the kingdom must believe the Prince's lie. Now the once proud rebel lay on the dungeon floor, his body still not healed from the rack now was bloody and infected.

The chair had been his latest torture. Christopher had been strapped to the chair adorned with spikes and forced to sit for two days. When he was pulled away, the flesh tore against the metal. Lying on the floor of his dirt cell with no ointment to dress his wounds, he would surely die from infection before the next torture was to begin.

"Christopher, I have come to help you." Gail's voice whispered like a dream in his ears.

Opening the cell, she slid inside and knelt by his side. With herbs she had collected she began to place the salve on his back, and legs. The small cries of pain that came from him broke her heart. Christopher was her only love. The Prince may have used her for his sexual pleasures, but she would raise the dead to protect the youngest of the Jericho's.

"I thought you dead. It has been so long since you were taken." He said as he stared at her form, still not trusting his eyes.

Gail closed her eyes against the feel of his skin. She had longed to feel his flesh once more. "I wish for death, Christopher." She said quietly as she winced at the pain from his wounds under her touch. "The things the Prince has me to do. If only I could die…"

Struggling, Christopher reached for her hand. "When I escape, I shall take you with me. This is no place for you."

The sounds of the dungeon doors opening forced Gail's heart to race. If she were caught with the prisoner, there is no telling what the Grand Prince would do to her. Quickly, she gathered her creams, and tucked them into the bottom of her modest frock. "I shall come to you again and redress your wounds. Take this bread and eat. You will need your strength if you are to escape."

She leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Christopher's once shiny blonde locks. And as quickly as she entered, she left the dungeon through the secret passage way.

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Randal paced the floors of the Great Hall, unable to control his anger. "Sir Robert, come." He demanded of his highest knight. "Send word to Helmsley that the mission is to be carried out sooner than discussed. If the Baron so much as looks at you as if he is not in agreement, you are ordered to slay him where he stands."

Storming away, Prince Randal made his way to the chamber of his slave, Gail. She had just crept back into her room and began the task of washing for supper. Without warning, she was snatched by the arm and lead down the corridor.

"My love, it is time to dine." The Grand Duchess said as Randal passed her in the hall.

Giving her a look of annoyance, Randal bowed to Patricia. "I shall dine with you after I have dessert." With no further explanation, he continued toward the dungeons pulling Gail silently beside him.

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The shriek of the door woke Christopher from what he thought was a dream. He thought that Gail had come to him, but Gail was long dead, wasn't she? Adjusting his battered eyes toward the bars on the cell, he noticed the Grand Prince standing glaring at him.

"I have visited your love and she is with another." Randal said mocking Christopher. "You should see the way he treats her. She is his slave to do his every desire. She has made rank of Lady; can you imagine what she had to do to deserve such a rank?"

Christopher felt fresh tears come to his eyes as he thought of the tortures Maria must be facing. He had only mission, to kill the Arch Duke for hurting her. "Please, your Highness, I must save her." He whispered through a weak voice.

"Save the Lady Maria. She is beyond saving now. Did you know she was his secret love before you came? She is the one who alerted my army of the rebel invasion." Randal's forked tongue was as deadly as a serpents'. "Who else knew of the plan to storm the Arch Duke's castle? She is the reason you are here, he is the reason you will die."

Feeling anger course through his body, Christopher forced himself to sit. The pain from his open sores screamed at the very muscle they lay on top of. With a grimace, he hardened his face against the lying Prince. "The day I believe the words of a liar is the day I shall be swallowed by the hounds of hell. You are the one who has done this. You have sent her to be punished. Any harm that befalls her will come to you in swarms."

Randal's eyes narrowed at Christopher, yet a smile crossed his face. "Have you forgotten that you are the prisoner? You have no position on which to make threats. Would you like to see how I treat those who threaten the Thrown?"

Christopher fixed his eyes back on Prince Randal. "There is nothing that you can do to harm me anymore. My soul died when Maria was taken."

"Really, then I say… enjoy the show." Randal walked out of the door only to return a moment later with Gail at his side. Standing in front of Christopher's cell he laughed as the tears rolled down her face. "I will show you harm."

Pushing her by her shoulders to her knees, Randal looked into her eyes. "Pay homage to the Crown." His demand was met with a pained look from Gail to Christopher, then back to the Prince. "Do not make me wait. Your punishment will be not be as gentle if I am unhappy."

As Gail fulfilled is command, Randal held her head so that he choked her with his length. He never let his eyes leave the prisoner's as he continued to bruise the back of her throat. When Christopher closed his eyes against the sight, Randal laughed. "He does not enjoy the show, slave. Mayhaps we need more to entertain the young Jericho."

Removing himself from Gail's mouth, he listened impatiently as she gagged and tried to catch her breath. He helped her to stand and with a strong hand, Randal ripped the frock from her body and turned her to face Christopher. Forcing her hands to hold the bars of the cell, he looked over her shoulder to stare Christopher in the eye. "Do you remember her body? The way the yellow flesh ripens with goose bumps at your touch? The soft curve of her breasts, the heated warmth of her confines? If not, let me remind you."

Pulling her hair Randal forced her into a harsh kiss, while raking his hands over her naked body. He smiled as he entered her without the preparation of the pot of cream that lay next to his bed.

Gail looked at Christopher's eyes at the Prince moved inside of her. The tears she shed were silent. It was not that she hadn't been taken this way by Randal before, but to know that Christopher sat watching destroyed her. As a small trickle of blood ran down her leg, she reached her hand out for Christopher as if to beg him for help.

Watching them Christopher felt himself go weak. Randal's laugh brought the emptiness from his stomach to his mouth. There was nothing he could do to stop him; Grand Prince Randal was a madman. The look on Gail's face reminded him that Maria may suffer the same fate with the Arch Duke.

"Enough, Your Highness. Whatever you wish, I will do…no more, please." Christopher choked out. Although Maria was his love, he still held a place in his heart for Gail. Her torture was worse than anything he had to suffer.

Randal's brows rose as he pushed Gail to the ground. He unlocked the door to the cell and dragged her body through the dirt to lie next to her love. "If you wish her, you shall have her." And he never turned back, after he locked the cell behind her. "You have just begun to learn which side you pledge alligence to. More lessons are to come, but because I feel gracious this night…you may sample my prize for your good behavior."

As Randal retreated through the dungeon he laughed at Gail's screams. No matter how he tried to make her scream she never would, but being locked away always drew those sweet cries from her voice that he craved. Feeling his erection rekindle as he headed through the hall he forged a smile as he locked eyes with the Grand Duchess. With honor and gentleness, he took her hand and smiled as he retreated with her to his bedchamber.